Max Pollak
The Jazz Gallery1160 Broadway, New York 10001
Max Pollak is billed at The Jazz Gallery for this Manhattan date. The available listing identifies him by name but gives no further details about the formation, repertoire, guests, or any special occasion attached to the performance. The room is built for close listening, with the music presented without the distractions of a full-service club; this is a chance to hear Pollak’s work in a setting devoted to progressive jazz and new musical ideas.
Austrian-born Pollak is a musician, composer, bandleader, and percussive dancer whose work crosses jazz, classical, and Latin music. He combines tap dance, body percussion, and singing, treating the body as an instrument. His group has toured internationally for more than 25 years. In a 2024 Jazz Gallery appearance, Pollak performed tap, vocals, and body percussion alongside Samuel Torres on percussion and electronics, Alexis Cuadrado on bass and electronics, and Nicki Denner on piano. His collaborators have included Ray Brown, Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera, Diana Damrau, Zubin Mehta, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. No reviewer comments are included in the available material.
The Jazz Gallery offers a focused listening room experience on the fifth floor of a Midtown office building, where the audience gathers to hear progressive jazz performed by emerging and established artists. The space is designed to highlight the music without distractions: seating is arranged to bring listeners close to the performers, fostering a direct connection with the sound. There is no food service, but a bar is available, and ticket prices are modest, encouraging accessibility. Shows typically run from 7 to 11 pm on select nights, featuring multiple sets that invite deep engagement rather than casual socializing. The venue’s commitment to artistic growth is evident in its support for new compositions and collaborations, making an evening here a chance to witness jazz as a living, evolving art form in a setting that respects both the musicians and the audience.